Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

514. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is not his policy decision to introduce toll gradients on the M50; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22602/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual roads, such as the M50, is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

One of the conditions attached to an Bord Pleanála's approval of the upgrade of the M50 which was completed in 2010 was the publication of a scheme of demand management measures. TII in conjunction with the relevant local authorities published its M50 Demand Management Report in April 2014.

While the 2014 M50 Demand Management Study recommended the introduction of multi-point tolling on the M50, my consistent position has been that I do not propose to introduce such tolls as the likely impact of multi-point tolling would be to push vehicles on to other roads and through local communities.

My view is that the emphasis at this point needs to be on addressing congestion across the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the National Transport Authority's (NTA) Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area provides the overarching framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services over the next two decades. Addressing urban congestion on both the strategic road network and locally in certain locations is an important theme in the Strategy.